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india - more of the north
 with a day stop over in delhi, and anorther early morning train arrival - we wandered the streets of old delhi. one of the few things open was jama masjid, india's largest mosque.
with a day stop over in delhi, and anorther early morning train arrival - we wandered the streets of old delhi. one of the few things open was jama masjid, india's largest mosque.



 cheap beds for those looking for something more comfortable than the pavement.
cheap beds for those looking for something more comfortable than the pavement.
 off to rajasthan, where the interior of our train got very dusty and sandy as we entered the desert.
off to rajasthan, where the interior of our train got very dusty and sandy as we entered the desert.
 on our way to the annual desert festival, we stopped in lodhruva to visit some jain temples.
on our way to the annual desert festival, we stopped in lodhruva to visit some jain temples.

 dancing at the festival, todays events are held at sam sand dunes.
dancing at the festival, todays events are held at sam sand dunes.
 riders preparing for the camel races.
riders preparing for the camel races.
 the spectators.
the spectators.
 we heard there is a moustache competition at the festival, this guy gets our pick for the winner.
we heard there is a moustache competition at the festival, this guy gets our pick for the winner.

 festival goers on the dunes.
festival goers on the dunes.
 jaisalmer 'the golden city' and its fort.
jaisalmer 'the golden city' and its fort.

 the city is filled with meticulously carved havelis - traditional residences -made of golden sandstone.
the city is filled with meticulously carved havelis - traditional residences -made of golden sandstone.
 the stunning nathmal-ki-haveli.
the stunning nathmal-ki-haveli.

 view from the fort.
view from the fort.

 hired a scooter and headed for the village of khuri and its sand dunes.
hired a scooter and headed for the village of khuri and its sand dunes.

 stopped for shave at this shack barber.
stopped for shave at this shack barber.

 back in jaisalmer and looking up at maharaja's palace.
back in jaisalmer and looking up at maharaja's palace.
 just inside the main of the fort.
just inside the main of the fort.
 a local playing his kamayacha. he sang for us a famous rajasthani love song. brilliant.
a local playing his kamayacha. he sang for us a famous rajasthani love song. brilliant.
 jodhpur - the blue city.
jodhpur - the blue city.
 sardar square and the clock tower.
sardar square and the clock tower.
 weding precession.
weding precession.
 mosaic tile work adorns many buildings.
mosaic tile work adorns many buildings.
 roofless abodes make it easy to see home life.
roofless abodes make it easy to see home life.

 the sun sets on another day.
the sun sets on another day.
 inside the meherangarh's fort walls for a tour.
inside the meherangarh's fort walls for a tour.
 spikes on the massive doors to hinder the attacking armies elephants.
spikes on the massive doors to hinder the attacking armies elephants.
 hand prints left by the maharaja's widows as they left the palace compound for the last time. it was customary to throw themselves on their husbands funeral pyre.
hand prints left by the maharaja's widows as they left the palace compound for the last time. it was customary to throw themselves on their husbands funeral pyre.

 fancy howdahs - seats for the maharaja when carried on an elephants back.
fancy howdahs - seats for the maharaja when carried on an elephants back.
 hand threaded silk make up the colours and designs on this blind.
hand threaded silk make up the colours and designs on this blind.
 a covered howdah for the maharaja's wife.
a covered howdah for the maharaja's wife.
 old fellow giving a demonstration on the hookah pipe and opium tea making.
old fellow giving a demonstration on the hookah pipe and opium tea making.
 detailed sword handle in the armoury.
detailed sword handle in the armoury.
 camel bone carpet weight.
camel bone carpet weight.
 inside the the palace, amazingly decorated rooms.
inside the the palace, amazingly decorated rooms.


 holi chowk, the women's courtyard.
holi chowk, the women's courtyard.
 the view from 125m up on the fort walls. originally, only brahmin priests had their houses painted blue...now no longer the case in the blue city.
the view from 125m up on the fort walls. originally, only brahmin priests had their houses painted blue...now no longer the case in the blue city.
 james bond was here. beautiful udaipur by lake pichola.
james bond was here. beautiful udaipur by lake pichola.
 just for valentines, luxury accommodation at jagat niwas palace hotel.
just for valentines, luxury accommodation at jagat niwas palace hotel.
 rooftop with the city palace in view.
rooftop with the city palace in view.


 the ultra luxurious lake palace hotel, formerly the royal summer palace.
the ultra luxurious lake palace hotel, formerly the royal summer palace.
 puppet show during dinner.
puppet show during dinner.

 the courtyard of our hotel.
the courtyard of our hotel.

 city palace, the largest in rajasthan.
city palace, the largest in rajasthan.
 udaipur is known for its miniature paintings, here is an artist at work.
udaipur is known for its miniature paintings, here is an artist at work.
 jagdish temple.
jagdish temple.
 they're with the band.
they're with the band.

 rooftop terrace views...
rooftop terrace views...

 sacred ghats line lake pushkar...in pushkar.
sacred ghats line lake pushkar...in pushkar.
 its wedding season, so in the daytime - female, and the evening - male precessions make their way through the streets.
its wedding season, so in the daytime - female, and the evening - male precessions make their way through the streets.

 sunset with savitri temple atop the hill in the background.
sunset with savitri temple atop the hill in the background.
 men dancing at another wedding precession.
men dancing at another wedding precession.
 holy man, known as a sadhu.
holy man, known as a sadhu.
 another sunset on the gahts.
another sunset on the gahts.
 monkeys.
monkeys.
 our insane, (but efficient) auto rickshaw driver in jaipur.
our insane, (but efficient) auto rickshaw driver in jaipur.
 hawa mahal in the 'pink' city.
hawa mahal in the 'pink' city.
 colourful bangles for sale at siredeori bazaar.
colourful bangles for sale at siredeori bazaar.
 while jenny shops, i take photos of traffic...
while jenny shops, i take photos of traffic...

 traditional shoes - jootis, at nehru bazaar.
traditional shoes - jootis, at nehru bazaar.
 this 150 year old camera still takes a good photo.
this 150 year old camera still takes a good photo.
 developed on the spot.
developed on the spot.
 its not uncommon to see the entire family on scooter or motorbike.
its not uncommon to see the entire family on scooter or motorbike.

 more colours on johari bazaar.
more colours on johari bazaar.
 shortly after arriving in agra, we took a little trip 40km west to fatehpur sikri. this was the capital of the mughal empire for only a short period (1571-1585).
shortly after arriving in agra, we took a little trip 40km west to fatehpur sikri. this was the capital of the mughal empire for only a short period (1571-1585).
 apart from the mosque which is still used, the fortified city was abandoned after emperor akbar's death as the area suffered from water shortages.
apart from the mosque which is still used, the fortified city was abandoned after emperor akbar's death as the area suffered from water shortages.

 the 5 storey panch mahal.
the 5 storey panch mahal.
 the treasury.
the treasury.
 fine carved exterior of the birbal bhavan.
fine carved exterior of the birbal bhavan.
 elephant gate.
elephant gate.
 the view of the grounds from atop the hiran minar (a tower 21m tall).
the view of the grounds from atop the hiran minar (a tower 21m tall).
 and here is what we came to agra for, the taj mahal. first ones in the gate at 6:50am.
and here is what we came to agra for, the taj mahal. first ones in the gate at 6:50am.
 yes its as impressive as you've heard, and why it was built only makes it more remarkable.
yes its as impressive as you've heard, and why it was built only makes it more remarkable.
 close up of the marble carvings and 'pietra pura' - marble inlay work on the taj's exterior.
close up of the marble carvings and 'pietra pura' - marble inlay work on the taj's exterior.
 its hard to stop taking photos of it...
its hard to stop taking photos of it...
 artist working with marble pieces inlaid with semi-precious stones.
artist working with marble pieces inlaid with semi-precious stones.
 filing the stones for a perfect fit.
filing the stones for a perfect fit.
 better call the cable guy...theres a problem with one of them wires...
better call the cable guy...theres a problem with one of them wires...
 spot the dog.
spot the dog.
 and back to the taj for sunset, this time we take in the view from the north side of the yamuna river.
and back to the taj for sunset, this time we take in the view from the north side of the yamuna river.
 wow.
wow.
 
 
 
          
      
 
  
 
 
 
3 comments:
My stash is better.
Sweet blog dudes!
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